Device for holding shoes while being blackened.



No. 675,274. Patented May 23, IBM.

' u. L. GARDNER.

'- DEVICE FOR HOLDING SHUES WHILE BEING BLACKENED.

(Application filed Nov. 15, 1900.)

(No Model.)

INVENTOR WITNESSES: fl zyfl kriinan Aftamey UNITED STATES HENRY L. GARDNER, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICB FOR HOLDING SHOES WHILE BEING BLACKENED.

SPZEGIFIGATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 675,274, dated May 28, 1901.

Application filed November 15, 1900- s rial No. 36,635. (F0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY L. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at S pringfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding Shoes While Being Blackened or Polished; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, makinga part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device for holding a shoe while bein g blackened or polished,said device adapted to enter the shoe to form a brace therefor and fill out the front portion of the shoe and firmly hold it in position while being operated upon.

The invention therefore consists in a device constructed substantially as shown in the drawings and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of my improved device, showing it in position in the shoe, the latter being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2, an under plan View of the device, showing the supp0rting-block in two positions in full and dotted lines; Fig. 3, a detail view showing the inner end of the ratchet-arm connected to the stationary bracket.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents an arm, which is preferably provided with a downward curve a, and to the extremity thereof is suitably pivoted a supporting-block B, which block may be of any suitable shape and size and of any desirable construction and is adapted to enter the front portion of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

In pivotally connecting the block to the outer end of the arm A, I prefer to form the extremity of the curved portion thereof with a disk 5 and the underside of the block B with a circular mortise c, in which the disk fits, said disk being pivoted to the block, as shown at d. v

A recess 6 is formed in the under side of the block B on a plane with and joining the mortise c to receive the extremity of the curved shank a, so that the block may move laterally to adjust itself in the shoe.

To the arm A is pivotally connected a lever O, which is provided at its upper end with a pivoted pawl f, adapted to engage the ratchetteeth g on the arm. The lever 0 extends down below the arm A and has on its end a bearing-head D of any preferred form and construction, which is held against the back and interior of the counter, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. When the lever O, with its bearing-head D, is brought in contact with the counter of the shoe and pressed outward against the same by means of the lever and the pawl f, engaged with the ratchetteeth g, the shoe will be held firm and stationary while being blackened or polished.

The arms A may be permanently secured to any object, such as the wall of a building,

or it may be detachably connected to a suit able bracket in any preferred manner. I have shown in the drawings one form of bracket, as indicated at E, which may be secured to any object by means of screws, nails, or other like fastenings, said bracket having a dovetail recess h to receive a dovetail '1; on the inner end of the arm A. The dovetail recess of the bracket may be slightly tapering, de creasing in width from top to bottom, and the dovetail upon the end of the arm in form to correspond therewith, thereby preventing the dovetail from slipping through the recess, or any other means may be provided for holding the arm to the bracket.

Any suitable lever and pawl and any suitable form of arm may be used, as well as any desirable form andconstruction of supporting-block, which is pivotally connected to the arm, as I do not wish to be understood as confining my invention to the particular form shown, as any changes or modification therein may be resorted to without affecting the essential features of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for holding shoes while being blackened or polished, consisting of a stationary arm and a suitable supporting-block pivoted thereto to admit of its lateral adjustinent, said block being adapted to enter the the lower end of the lever, substantially as front of the shoe, substantially as and for the and for the purpose setforth.

purpose set forth. In testimony that I claim the above I have 2. A device for holding shoes While being hereunto subscribed my name in the presence 5 blackened or polished, consisting of a stationof two witnesses.

ary arm provided with ratchet-teeth, and a 7 T supporting-block at the outer end of the arm, HEB RY GARDNER a lever pivotally connected to the arm and Witnesses:

provided with a suitable pawl for engaging SIMON B. PARKER,

10 the ratchet-teeth, and a bearing-head upon EDWIN B. VVEBBER. 

